Waipawa Scores!

Waipawa Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 2351, 22 October 1889, Page 2

Waipawa Scores!

Both the Napier evening papers last night put in their leading column a letter thrt has heon addressed to all newspapers i i the colony and the Education Boards. Last session the Premier gave a promise t > ssiiu a circular to the several Boards to invite suggestions in respect of the syllabus, and Mr James C. Wilson, MH.IL, h s mude some that have been well recci od already. We should like to have t!io pleasure of inviting Mr i son to inspect the Waipawa School, for th re he woul I find all that he recommend- iu the fullest of full swing. As to mu-i the tonic sol fa is not taught, but the old staff notation even the smallest children have a knowledge of it. A!togoiher, we believe Mr Wilson would be delighted to kuow that in Wuipawa every recommendation male by him iu the following circular, has been carried into effect long since, while the ordinary work imposed by the present syda'ms is kept up to a high standard. Mr Wilson says :

(1 ) In addition to rending, writing, and the importance of which all are agreed on, I should add drawing ns one of the premier subjects. It does not receive anything like the proportionate amount of time, which from its importance to the future welfare of the pupil, it ought to receive. It is the basis of all technical education. No matter what the pupil is destined for, drawing taught in the proper way is of the utmost importance. It is of great service as a im-ntal training ; it forms an agreeable interlude to the other lessons, and can be taught by any of the present schoolmasters, if they have an opportunity (as they ought to have) of being tnight in a proper school.

(2) Singing upon the tonic sol-fa system should also have some prominence. Ii should be ns easy for a child to read music as to read its lesson books. The

teaching of music is a matter of more difficulty. Although those who have full knowledge of the subject say no child cannot be taught to aing, still some of the a hoolmasters are too old to learn. Many fortunately already know the system, and in some schools the children sing admirably.

{3.) Science in the higher cUsses should have relation to the pursuits likely to be followed by the majority of the pupils, H*ich as mineralogy for the mining districts, agriculture and dairying for the farming districts. I may say with regard to thia

t'»at the Government have promised me that manuals on these two important subjects shall bo prepared for the uee of schools.

(4 ) The subjects of geography, grammar, history, &c., receive far too much time at present relative to their importance. The public mind is strong in this direction.

(5.) Drill should for part of every day’s work. The discipline in schools in a country where discipline ie lax, is beuefici.il. Girls should all be taught the use of clubs, if there are no other gymnastic exercises possible. Every encouragement should be giveu by all connecte 1 with education to the good old English out door g .ines, which our public school boys seetn sadly deficient in. (6.) The syllabus should allow of much more discretionary power being given to the Inspectors. Often it is in the Interests of e iucation that some Alteration should be made, in small country schools for instance with one teacher. The Inspector has no power but ta enforco the syllabus in its entirety.